When faced with limited job options, John decided to forge his own path, turning to his father, Mark, with a proposition: “I want to go into business with you.” Having worked together before, John believed creating his own job was the key to finding fulfilling work. Mark embraced the idea, and so began their entrepreneurial journey.
The duo brainstormed business ideas. John initially envisioned a “fun store,” aiming for something creative and enjoyable, but they struggled to define its inventory. Next, inspired by the movie Chef, John suggested a food truck. They started planning menus, only to realize a significant hurdle: “We can’t cook,” John admitted.
With the food truck idea off the table, John had his breakthrough. “Let’s sell socks,” he declared, proposing they specialize in crazy socks. He even had a name and website sketches ready. When asked about his focus on socks, John explained, “I wore crazy socks my entire life. They are fun, colorful, and creative. They let me be me.”
Mark added, “John had always worn crazy socks; it was his signature. We would even search for them together. It seemed that if John loved fun socks so much, others would too.” This shared enthusiasm became the foundation for John’s Crazy Socks.
Embarking on their venture, John and Mark built an e-commerce website on Shopify. They secured inventory from suppliers, established bank accounts, and registered with New York State. Their initial marketing was simple: a Facebook page and homemade videos featuring John showcasing his socks. This is when John’s memorable catchphrase, “socks, socks and more socks,” was born. They also committed to donating 5% of their earnings to the Special Olympics, adding a philanthropic dimension to their business.
They planned to launch at 10 a.m., but a website crash delayed their opening until 3 p.m. Anticipation turned to reality as orders began to pour in. Initially, customers were predominantly local, familiar with John and Mark from Huntington. Their connection? They loved John’s videos and his infectious enthusiasm for John’s Crazy Socks.
To make the first deliveries special, they opted for local, hand-delivered packages. Each order was placed in a red box, accompanied by candy and a personal thank-you note from John. John himself delivered the boxes, knocking on doors and meeting his first customers face-to-face.
The personal touch resonated deeply. Customers enthusiastically shared photos with John and images of their new socks on social media. Word-of-mouth spread rapidly, and orders increased. By the end of their first month, John’s Crazy Socks had fulfilled 452 orders, generating over $13,000 in revenue.
John and Mark’s experiment in selling socks online had proven overwhelmingly successful. Mark summarized their key takeaways: “We learned three things: People want to buy socks. People want to buy socks from John. And this young man and this old man can sell socks.” The story of John’s Crazy Socks is a testament to passion, family collaboration, and the power of embracing individuality in business.
